April 9th, 2021 by WCBC Radio
A bill drafted to protect the firearms rights of medical cannabis users in Maryland was blocked in the House of Delegates Friday.
SB190, sponsored by Senate Minority Whip Michael Hough, would remove medical cannabis usage as a reason to deny a person the right to purchase or carry a firearm.
The bill was passed unanimously by the Senate but has been amended since moving to the House.
The amendments added regulations to the manufacture and transfer of certain unfinished parts of a firearm in order to protect against the proliferation of untraceable firearms. The bill was then altered again with the adoption of an amendment by Del. C.T. Wilson to strike provisions allowing those with medical cannabis cards to purchase or possess a firearm. Wilson said the bill could create confusion between state and federal law, where possession of a firearm by marijuana users is illegal. Wilson said the amendment would bring Maryland back in line with federal law.
Minority Leader Del. Nik Kipke motioned for the bill to be recommitted to the Judiciary Committee, but that motion failed.
The bill has been scheduled for review again in the House on Saturday.
